W Series grid is taking shape

The newly created W Series will make its debut at Hockenheim, in the support programme of the 2019 DTM season kick-off. In this race series, solely girls and young women will be promoted and compete with one another. For the time being, all the races will exclusively be contested in the DTM support programme.

In control single-seaters that are powered by 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo engines and meet the latest safety standards of the International Automobile Association, FIA, the girls and young women from all over the world will battle it out not only for pole positions and race wins but also for a total prize money in the amount of 1.5 million US dollars.

Those responsible for the series now have made a first selection: from more than 100 applicants they chose 55 women from 30 countries and 18 of them will travel to Hockenheim to battle it out with one another with Tatus-318 single-seaters in the support programme of the DTM season kick-off at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. “We weren’t surprised but – nonetheless – overwhelmed by the reception,” said CEO Catherine Bond Muir.

Ex DTM aces Coulthard and Wurz to make the final decision

The list features well-known names. Dutch Beitske Visser was member of the Red Bull Junior squad and currently is a BMW Junior. The only 17-year old Hungarian Vivien Keszthelyi already contested the 2018 Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup in the DTM support programme. Meanwhile, Spain’s Carmen Jorda was test and development driver for the Lotus Formula One Team. In 2015, Aston Martin V8 GT Vantage GT4 driver Jamie Chadwick was the youngest and first female winner of the British GT Championship title. And Germany is represented on the shortlist by Doreen Seidel, Angelique Germany, Michelle Halder, Marylin Niederhauser and Carrie Schreiner, with the latter recently having raced in the Asian Lamborghini Super Trofeo.

Now, the 55 female racers will have two months time for preparing for three days of testing where – inter alia – the two former DTM drivers David Coulthard and Alexander Wurz will make the final selection when it comes to the 18 drivers who will be granted one of the 18 slots on the 2019 grid. “We created this series to offer female talents from all over the world the opportunity to come to the fore. I just can’t wait for witnessing the talents going for it on the track,” said Coulthard.